Private School Leader Reacts To Alabama Accountability Bill

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – The passage of the Alabama Accountability Act has been met with outcry from district leaders and members of the Alabama Education Association.

But private schools are concerned as well. At least, that is the case at the Montessori School of Huntsville.

“As a school we aren’t comfortable with the tax credit for students who leave public school to come to private school,” said Allison MacKenzie, head of the school.

The amendment raises concerns over funding and overcrowding.

“It is not inexpensive to provide a Montessori education. We would like to do more of that, however our particular school is a non-profit and we struggle to stay financially fit,” said MacKenzie.

They are issues raised by Casey Wardynski, Superintendent of Huntsville City Schools. He believes an exodus from schools classified as “failing” would widen the gap education inequality.

“It will make it more difficult for us to achieve our reserve position,” said Wardynski. “A lot of these expenditures will come at the expense of what parents want in all of our schools: engineering programs, project Lead the Way, and foreign languages. All this comes at expense of that.”